Chaos in Kirinyaga as residents storm police station over murder of Mwea man

The residents, carrying the coffin of Martin Kara, demanded the immediate arrest of a bishop from a church in Ciagini, claiming he had not been taken into custody.

Their protests came despite efforts by police officers and Ciagini Location Chief Justus Wanjohi to assure them that the suspect had already been arrested.

Mwea West Sub-County Police Commander Millicent Ngugi confirmed that the bishop was arrested on Wednesday evening and is being held at Kiamaciri Police Station as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) continue with investigations.

Ngugi said the bishop was arraigned at the Baricho Law Courts on Thursday morning, where police obtained orders to detain him for 10 days pending completion of investigations.

Residents accused the bishop of allegedly hiring three men — two of them relatives of the deceased — to assault Kara. He reportedly died before he could be rushed to hospital.

According to residents, the assault was linked to allegations that Kara had stolen rice and a chicken.

Following news of his death, enraged residents reportedly set the bishop’s homestead on fire and vandalized his church.

Kara’s body was later taken to Kibugi Funeral Home awaiting burial.

Meanwhile, five residents were escorted to Kiamaciri Police Station to confirm that the bishop was in custody, in a move aimed at calming tensions within the community.